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Music from Mali: Vieux Farka Touré

Date:

Tuesday, July 9, 2013 - 7:30pm

Malian guitar ace Vieux Farka Touré, often referred to as "the Hendrix of the Sahara," returns to The Cedar stage on July 9, at 7:30 pm, with a brilliant new album, "Mon Pays" (My Country). The album is a moving tribute to his home country Mali, torn apart by territorial fighting between Tuareg and Islamic rebels since January 2012.

The predominantly acoustic album had been planned before the invasions began, and Touré initially went into a Bamako studio to honor the acoustic blues tradition of Northern and Southern Mali. Since then, "Mon Pays" transformed into an artifact of cultural preservation.

Vieux is devoted to reminding the world about the beauty and culture of his homeland. "For me it is a statement for the world that this land is for the sons and daughters of Mali, not for Al Qaeda or any militants. This land is for peace and beauty, rich culture and tolerance. This is our heritage, what we must always fight to protect in any way that we can. For me, that means making music that reminds the world of who we are."